Minnesota House of Representatives, Andrew Falk's Report

Power Poster Number of posts : 721 Registration date : 2008-05-15

SWIFT COUNTY-BENSON HOSPITAL FIGHTING FOR ADEQUATE STATE FUNDING
Potential state budget cuts at area hospital could amount to $1 million

ST. PAUL, MN – Dozens of hospital administrators from across Minnesota descended on the State Capitol today to fight for adequate state funding in the face of the state’s worst ever budget crisis. Potential budget cuts under Governor Tim Pawlenty’s health care proposals would eliminate $764 million in state funding for hospitals over the next two years. Those cuts would be devastating to hospitals and communities throughout the state – eliminating critical care options for patients, shedding thousands of jobs, and potentially forcing some Minnesota hospitals to close.

“If the governor’s budget passes, his cuts to hospitals will never heal,” said State Rep. Tom Huntley who chairs the House Health Care and Human Services Finance Division. “Jobs and services lost to those cuts will never come back. Hospitals in Benson and across the state would be severely damaged, unable to recover.”

The governor’s budget plan hits close to home. Should the plan become law, Swift County – Benson Hospital would lose just over $1 million in state funding over the next two years, amounting to close to 15% percent of its gross revenue. Swift County –Benson Hospital administrator Frank Lawatsch was in St. Paul advocating for a more reasonable House plan authored by Rep. Huntley that would help keep hospitals whole through the budget crisis.

State Rep. Andrew Falk attended the briefing, and said he hoped the Governor heard the message today from the hospital representatives.

“Out here in rural Minnesota, our local hospitals are even more important,” said Falk. “Hospitals understand we are facing a historic budget deficit, but they also want cuts to be fair, not so heavily skewed toward health care.

The House plan for funding health care is much more reasonable, and gives hospitals a fighting chance.”

Under the budget plan offered by House DFLers, Minnesota hospitals would face significantly lower cuts, totaling just $76 million – $688 million less than what Governor Pawlenty has proposed. Losses to Swift County – Benson Hospital would shrink to only $27 thousand or 0.3 percent of the hospital’s gross revenue.

“The consequences of the governor’s budget are too severe to ignore,” said Rep. Huntley. “We’re facing a record $6.4 billion budget shortfall and everyone needs to share in the solution. But we can’t sacrifice the critical services our hospitals provide Minnesota communities just to save a buck. We need to set priorities and make responsible decisions for our hospitals and our future.”

“This recession will end,” said Falk. “And when it does, we want to make sure our local hospitals are still here caring for the members of our community and providing important jobs.”

The 2009 Legislative Session is scheduled to adjourn May 18. Until then, Rep. Huntley encourages all citizens of Hutchinson to call Governor Pawlenty and tell him to support the House proposal as a more responsible way to balance the budget. Governor Tim Pawlenty can be reached by phone at (800) 657-3717 or by email at tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us.